Quick-releasing key holder



March 29,1927. 1,622,532

7 F. W. MORSE QUICK RELEASING KEY HOLDER Filed Jan. 11, 1926 INVENTOR. FRANK W. MORSE .A TTORNE Y.

Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES FRANK W. MORSE, OF SAN FERNANDO, CALIFORNIA.

QUICK-BELEASING KEY HOLDER.

Application filed January 11, 1926. Serial No. 80,487.

This invention relates to quick releasing key holders.

The general object of the invention is to provide a key holder which may be mounted on'a belt or other support and which will enable a plurality of keys to be supported thereon and quickly released when desired- A specific object of the invention is to provide a key holder wherein a key plate is provided with a pair of coacting spring tongues which may serve to hold keys in quick releasing position.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a quick releasing key holder embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view through the key holder;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a key holder showing the manner in which keys are placed on and removed from the holder.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the blank from which the key holder may be made;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the blank;

Fig. 6 is a plan of the blank after it has been partly formed to shape;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the completed key holder;

Fig. 8 is a front view;

Fig. 9 is a side view of a modification of my invention;

Fig. 10 is a central sectional view through the modification and Fig. 11 is a. plan view of the blank from which the modified form of my invention may be made.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I have shown a quick releasing key holder embodying the features of my lnvention at 10. This key holder is adapted to be mountedon a belt 11 or may be secured in any other desired manner.

The key holder is preferably made from a single piece of metal 12 which is shown in Fig. 4. The material shown as a blank or strip is punched to provide tongues 14 and 15 as in Fig. 4. These tongues are bent along dotted lines 17 and 18 to provide downwardly extending portions 19 and 20. The ends of the tongues are then bent to provide portions 21 and 22 as shown in Fig. 5. During the operation of making my key holder the tongues 21 and 22 are moved laterally slightly by distorting the metal at the roots of the tongues so that the tongues in the finished product normally overlap as shown at 23 in Fig. 6. The strip of metal 12 is a resilient strip so that the tongues are resilient and will normally engage each other as shown in the drawing.

' The body of the strip 12 is bent along lines 24 to provide a hollow rectangular tubularlike portion 26 through which the belt 11 or other support may be fastened.

In using my device the keys 28 which may have rings 29 thereon, are placed on the holder by depressing the tongue 14 as shown in Fig. 3.

In inserting a key on the holder it is only necessary to press the key against the lower tongue and move it upwardly and then release the key whereupon it will drop to position (shown in Fig. 2) at the bottom of the holder. When removing a key the key is moved to the top of the holder and is pulled outwardly against the tongue 15 thereby springing this tongue and moving it away from the tongue 14 thereby allowing the key to be removed by pulling it downwardly and outwardly away from the key holder.

In Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, I have shown a modification of my invention wherein the body portion 32 is provided with an ornamental rim 33 and with a tongue 34 which is resilient. The body 32 includes a strap-like portion or tongue 35. The body and the strap are bent along lines 36 shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The tongue 35 is provided with a pair of spaced slots 37 which are adapted to receive and hold a strip of resilient metal 38. This strip is bent to the shape shown in Fig. 10 so that it engages the end of the tongue 34. The operation of'the modification of my invention is substantially the same as the operation outlined in connection with the main embodiment and it is deemed unnecessary to repeat this description.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided an improved quick releasing key holder which can be economically manufactured and which is durable and which is highly eflicient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A key holder made from a single blank bent to form a hollow body portion including'a front, a back, a top and a bottom, said front, back, top and bottom having parallel side edges, a pair of tongues arranged on said front, said tongues being narrower than said front and having parts thereof spaced from the front, said tongues being overlapped.

2. A quick releasing key holder comprising a died metal strip bent to form a hollow rectangular body portion, a tongue struck from the lower part of said body portion, said tongue being spaced from the front of said body to provide a space for the reception of keys, and a resilient member projecting from the upper part of said body, said member being formed to engage the tongue in front of said body to hold keys on the tongue. c

3. A quick releasing key holder co1nprising a metal strip bent to form a hollow rectangular body portion, a pair of tongues struck from said body portion, said tongues having their ends overlapping, said tongues being spaced from the front of said body to provide space for the reception of the keys.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature.

FRANK MORSE. 

